Thirteen Mercer Island High School students earned top spots at the Washington State DECA Career Development Conferences Saturday, March 8, qualifying them for the international competition in Atlanta the first week of May. The top seven individuals or teams out of 50-60 state competitors qualify for the international competition. Nine more Mercer Island Students earned medals for placing in the top 10 percent in specific categories.

“Our students will be well served by their entrepreneurial achievements. These students are the promising leaders of tomorrow who will be running companies and leading communities,” said Mercer Island School District Superintendent Dr. Gary Plano.

The state competition took place March 6-8 at the Meydenbauer Convention Center in Bellevue, where nearly 50 Mercer Island students competed against thousands of other Washington high school students in case study and written research events.

DECA, an international association of marketing students, gives students the chance to compete annually at area, state, and international competitions in the areas of marketing, finance, accounting, entrepreneurship and management. By learning business and communication skills, DECA prepares students for leadership, college and professional life through engaging and challenging projects.